lycium

The Chinese have always believed the Lycium fruit and liquorice extract as health tonics par excellence, and believed that our health depends on the balances on the balance of the ‘Yin and Yang’ within our bodies. Lycium fruit Is herb derive from Lycium barbarum, the fruit is known by the Chinese name ‘Gou Qi Zi’, or wolfberry, and has used since ancient times, recorded in the earliest existing Chinese mataria medica published around 100 A.D.The first recorded use of Lycium fruit as a medicinal herb the first century A.D. Lycium is rich in amino acids, beta-carotene, vitamins, polysaccharides, carbohydrates, fats, proteins, trace elements, and has been very widely used as an excellent ‘Yin’ and blood tonic. For thousands of years it has been used in China to promote a long, vigorous, and happy life. It has said that prolonged consumption of Lycium would promote cheerfulness and vitality; and has long been a favorite herb of Chinese martial artists and athletes as it was thought to strength the legs. Traditional Chinese herbalist described Lycium as having the properties to promote liver and kidney health, improve vision and stamina, nourishing the blood, stimulate the nervous system enriching the yin , to boost immunity and fertility, benefiting one’s complexion, the effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Combat disease and increase life span. It is believed to a powerful antioxidant fortifying the system against disease and to provide the energy to overcome difficult obstacles. The Lycium fruit has for over 2500 hundred years. Liquorice gets name from Greek ‘glyks’ meaning sweet and ‘rhiza’ meaning root. It was know to the Greeks, mentioned in the Hippocratic texts, and to the Romans, who made liquorice extract as we to today. Hippocratic name the herb ‘glukos riza’, or sweet root. Ancient Chinese herbalist used liquorice, distilling the root’s essence and prescribing it for a wide range of conditions. Liquorice is one of the mainstays of traditional Chinese medicine as it is made up of over 150 chemicals compounds, and has been used for over 3,000 years in tonic herb formulas as a treatment for ulcer , acute and chronic coughs , upper respiratory ailments including hoarseness, soar throat, bronchitis and skin disorders. It is thought to carry the effects of all of the other herbs in a formula thought out the body. It was also considered an important antidote to a variety of toxic substances, it is known as the ‘Yang tonic, and has been a very old favorite in Chinese medicine, mainly used to complement various other herbs. Traditional Chinese medicine also used liquorice to protect the digestive system from the harsher effects of other herbs. The strong smell and distinctive taste of the herb was often used to small and distinctive taste of the herb was often used to mask unpalatable flavors in cough medicine and throat lozenges, and was chewed to relieve a sore throat and gargling with an infusion of the root helped relieve dry cough and oral inflammations.